Hopper for cement chute

Abstract

A concrete accessory for use with a ready mix chute comprises a funnel shaped hopper. The hopper has a wide upper opening of a size corresponding to that of a ready mix chute and tapering to a narrow lower opening. The hopper has a seamless inner surface and a pair of hollow aligned receptacles on opposite sides of the hopper and extending outwardly therefrom proximate the upper opening. An elongate rod has a length greater than the spacing between the aligned hollow receptacles to be received therein. A hanger assembly removably attaches the rod to a ready mix chute, in use, to support the hopper below the chute.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A concrete accessory for use with a ready mix chute comprising:
 a funnel shaped hopper with a wide upper opening of a size corresponding to a ready mix chute and tapering to a narrow lower opening, the hopper having a seamless inner surface and a pair of aligned hollow receptacles on opposite sides of the hopper and extending outwardly therefrom proximate the upper opening, wherein the hollow receptacles are closed at distal ends; 
 an elongate rod having a length greater than spacing between the aligned hollow receptacles to be received therein; and 
 a hanger assembly for removably attaching the rod to a ready mix chute, in use, to support the hopper below the chute. 
 
     
     
       2. The concrete accessory of  claim 1  wherein the hopper is of one piece plastic construction. 
     
     
       3. The concrete accessory of  claim 1  wherein the hollow receptacles are cylindrical. 
     
     
       4. The concrete accessory of  claim 1  wherein the lower exhaust throat has a diameter of about eight inches. 
     
     
       5. The concrete accessory of  claim 1  wherein the hopper has a stepped down upper edge on one side of the receptacles to be received under an end of the ready mix chute, in use. 
     
     
       6. The concrete accessory of  claim 1  wherein the funnel shaped hopper has an upper frustoconical portion continuing to a lower exhaust throat. 
     
     
       7. The concrete accessory of  claim 6  wherein the lower exhaust throat has an outwardly extending peripheral ridge at its lower edge. 
     
     
       8. The concrete accessory of  claim 7  further comprising an elongate sleeve received on the throat. 
     
     
       9. The concrete accessory of  claim 8  further comprising a clamp for securing the elongate sleeve on the throat above the ridge. 
     
     
       10. A concrete accessory for use with a ready mix chute comprising:
 a hopper of one piece molded plastic construction, the hopper comprising a generally frustoconical upper wall connected to a generally cylindrical lower throat wall and including a wide upper opening and the throat wall tapering to a narrow lower opening, the hopper having a seamless inner surface and a pair of aligned hollow receptacles on opposite sides of the frustoconical upper wall and extending outwardly therefrom proximate the upper opening; 
 an elongate rod having a length greater than spacing between the aligned hollow receptacles to be received therein; and 
 a hanger assembly for removably attaching the rod to a ready mix chute, in use, to support the hopper below the chute, 
 
       wherein the hanger assembly comprises a pair of chains each having hooks at opposite ends thereof. 
     
     
       11. A concrete accessory for use with a ready mix chute comprising:
 a hopper of one piece molded plastic construction, the hopper comprising a generally frustoconical upper wall connected to a generally cylindrical lower throat wall and including a wide upper opening and the throat wall tapering to a narrow lower opening, the hopper having a seamless inner surface and a pair of aligned hollow receptacles on opposite sides of the frustoconical upper wall and extending outwardly therefrom proximate the upper opening, wherein the hollow receptacles are closed at distal ends; 
 an elongate rod having a length greater than spacing between the aligned hollow receptacles to be received therein; and 
 a hanger assembly for removably attaching the rod to a ready mix chute, in use, to support the hopper below the chute. 
 
     
     
       12. The concrete accessory of  claim 11  wherein the hollow receptacles are cylindrical. 
     
     
       13. The concrete accessory of  claim 11  wherein spacing between the hollow receptacles is about twenty inches. 
     
     
       14. The concrete accessory of  claim 11  wherein the lower throat wall has a diameter of about eight inches. 
     
     
       15. The concrete accessory of  claim 11  wherein the lower throat wall has an outwardly extending peripheral ridge at its lower edge. 
     
     
       16. The concrete accessory of  claim 15  further comprising an elongate sleeve received on the throat wall. 
     
     
       17. The concrete accessory of  claim 16  further comprising a clamp for securing the elongate sleeve on the throat wall above the ridge. 
     
     
       18. The concrete accessory of  claim 11  wherein the hopper has a stepped down upper edge on one side of the receptacles to be received under an end of the ready mix chute, in use.